This is my rant about the state of the game. Let me start by saying I am not nostalgic for the “good old days” and I understand that the game must grow and develop, but the direction the game is going is destroying it as a spectacle for me and I just don’t see a way back under the current Administration. There are four main problems as I see it:
1. The 2 referee system
2. The speed of the ruck and the wrestle
3. The interchange system
4. Niggle
The 2 referee system is an abject failure. There is absolutely no evidence that we are getting the decisions right more often than when there was only 1 referee. There is any number of documented cases of one referee calling it one way with the other referee simultaneously calling it another way. Many referee calls are subjective within the bounds of the games rules and we are simply getting constant inconsistency because 2 individuals will always have a slightly different interpretation. I can live with the subjectivity as long as it is consistent within each 80 minutes of football and equal for both sides. Solution – return to the one referee system.
In 1997 the Super League Comp decided it was in the Broncos best interests to speed the ruck up. Make no mistake that was the only reason for it. Since then there has been a warped sense that a fast play the ball will lead to a better game. This is rubbish!!!! All a fast play the ball leads to is incessant dummy half running and one pass from the ruck. A slower ruck will result in attacking teams being forced to play a more expansive and entertaining style to go around the ruck defence, just like they did for decades before 1997. Funnily enough the wrestle, which in itself is destroying the game, is devised to slow the ruck, which you might think would achieve this. Unfortunately the focus of the wrestle has removed multiple players from the defensive line (ie 3 in a tackle) meaning teams will still try and play the middle third to exploit any gaps that come from multiple players in the wrestle. The solution here is to ban the wrestle (Difficult to do), but stop the instant penalties for not getting off the tackled player. Let it slow down a little and the sweeping backline movements will return.
The interchange will help fix the ruck speed if they reduce it from 10 to 5. By having 5 interchanges teams can rotate both props in both halves and have 1 spare for any injuries. Let’s bring fatigue back into play, particularly in the last 20 minutes of the game. The only players that won’t be 80 minute players will be the props.
The no punch rule is crap. I’m not advocating king hits, but two consenting adults squaring off face to face is no problem in my eyes. Apparently boxing is Ok for NRL players (Gallen & SBW to name 2) but 2 blokes squaring off in the heat of battle is not Ok. I just don’t get that logic and all it is leading to is niggle as players like Ennis try to bait someone into losing their cool and getting sin binned. It’s ridiculous, get rid of it now.
RANT OVER!
1. The 2 referee system
2. The speed of the ruck and the wrestle
3. The interchange system
4. Niggle
The 2 referee system is an abject failure. There is absolutely no evidence that we are getting the decisions right more often than when there was only 1 referee. There is any number of documented cases of one referee calling it one way with the other referee simultaneously calling it another way. Many referee calls are subjective within the bounds of the games rules and we are simply getting constant inconsistency because 2 individuals will always have a slightly different interpretation. I can live with the subjectivity as long as it is consistent within each 80 minutes of football and equal for both sides. Solution – return to the one referee system.
In 1997 the Super League Comp decided it was in the Broncos best interests to speed the ruck up. Make no mistake that was the only reason for it. Since then there has been a warped sense that a fast play the ball will lead to a better game. This is rubbish!!!! All a fast play the ball leads to is incessant dummy half running and one pass from the ruck. A slower ruck will result in attacking teams being forced to play a more expansive and entertaining style to go around the ruck defence, just like they did for decades before 1997. Funnily enough the wrestle, which in itself is destroying the game, is devised to slow the ruck, which you might think would achieve this. Unfortunately the focus of the wrestle has removed multiple players from the defensive line (ie 3 in a tackle) meaning teams will still try and play the middle third to exploit any gaps that come from multiple players in the wrestle. The solution here is to ban the wrestle (Difficult to do), but stop the instant penalties for not getting off the tackled player. Let it slow down a little and the sweeping backline movements will return.
The interchange will help fix the ruck speed if they reduce it from 10 to 5. By having 5 interchanges teams can rotate both props in both halves and have 1 spare for any injuries. Let’s bring fatigue back into play, particularly in the last 20 minutes of the game. The only players that won’t be 80 minute players will be the props.
The no punch rule is crap. I’m not advocating king hits, but two consenting adults squaring off face to face is no problem in my eyes. Apparently boxing is Ok for NRL players (Gallen & SBW to name 2) but 2 blokes squaring off in the heat of battle is not Ok. I just don’t get that logic and all it is leading to is niggle as players like Ennis try to bait someone into losing their cool and getting sin binned. It’s ridiculous, get rid of it now.
RANT OVER!
